Commissioners approve ongoing COVID-19 mitigation efforts

During a recent meeting, the Owen County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution of continuing mitigation efforts in relationship to the ongoing pandemic.

This resolution is designed to continue the safety of both Owen County citizens and county employees. Items included in the resolution are:

County offices will be closed to the public until June 3 at 8 a.m.

Government meetings will continue to be held via videoconference or telephone conference.

Owen County courts will remain open and will comply with with all orders specified in Indiana Administrative Rule 17 Emergency Relief.

The officers of the Record, Clerk and Auditor have statutory duties that may require admission of a member of the public to enter the courthouse. Procedures to be followed include:

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The member of the public shall contact the Recorder, Clerk, or Auditor by phone or email and request an appointment.

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(b) The Recorder, Clerk, and Auditor shall evaluate the request to determine if it is an essential statutorily required service that requires a face-to-face meeting. If the appointment is approved, the Recorder, Clerk, or Auditor shall notify security of the time of the appointment and the respective office where the appointment is scheduled. The member of the public shall immediately and directly report to the respective office and immediately directly leave at the conclusion of the essential business.

Owen County Prosecutor’s Office may need to admit law

enforcement officers into the courthouse for search warrants, arrest warrants or case investigations.

The courthouse will be open for early voting to the general public under the following conditions:

Early voting will be for one week starting on May 26, 2020, to May 29, 2020, voting will be conducted inside the courthouse from 8:00am until 4:00pm. Voters shall enter on the south side of the courthouse. Voters unable to use the stairs on the south side may enter through the north side. Elections will provide masks, gloves, and sanitizer. There will be four (4) voting machines at a distance of six-feet apart.

The courthouse will be open for early voting on Saturday, May 30, 2020, from 8:00am until 3:00pm. Voters will enter through the north side. A satellite center for voting will be open at the Spencer Nazarene Church, 126 E. Market Street, Spencer, Indiana, as an overflow site to insure proper social distancing.

The courthouse will be open for early voting Monday, June 1, 2020, from 8:00am to 12:00pm. Voters shall enter on the south side of the courthouse. Voters unable to use the stairs may enter through the northside.

The public drop boxes will continue to be available to conduct county business. One “Drop Box” will be located at the Health Department, eastside of the building at 86 East Market Street, Spencer, Indiana. Another “Drop Box” will be located outside of the Owen County Courthouse, 60 South Main Street, Spencer, Indiana. The public should place all documents, paper work and check payments that need to be processed into an envelope addressed to the applicable office. Owen County departments shall not accept cash payments.

“On or before May 11, 2020, all Hoosier employers shall develop a plan to implement measures and institute safeguards to ensure a safe environment for their employees, customers, clients, and members. The plan shall be provided to each employee or staff and publicly posted.” The plan is required to address at least (4) points:

Employee Health Screening Process — Owen County employees should not come to work if they are feeling ill, have a temperature, or exhibits any symptoms associated with COVID-19. Everyone entering the buildings will have their temperature taken. Elected Officials and Department Heads shall require all employees exhibiting and/or reporting any symptoms associated with COVID-19 to go home and stay at home until all symptoms subside. Any employee that has had direct contact with another person who has tested positive for COVID-19 shall self-quarantine and not return to work for a minimum of fourteen (14) days. There are several forms of paid or partially paid leave available to Owen County employees for this purpose. There are up to two weeks (maximum of eighty (80) hours) of paid Public Health Pandemic (PHP) Leave available if an employee meets at lease one of the six qualifying criteria. Additionally, there are up to twelve (12) weeks of paid FMLA COVID Leave, pain at two third (2/3

) of the employees’ full pay, if the FMLA is based on a qualifying COVID-19 event. Finally, employees may use PTO to stay at home if neither of the aforementioned leaves are available or applicable. Please check with your Elected Official or Department Head if you have questions or concerns regarding the leave available to you.

— All departments have been provided with disinfectant spray and paper towels for cleaning their local frequent contact surfaces as needed (counter tops, local use materials and/or equipment, etc.) Custodians can clean public high touch items (exterior door handles, elevator controls, handrails, rest room door handles and touched controls and/or fixtures). The County has a good supply of disinfectant for re-supply.

Enhancing the Ability of Employees, Customers and Clients to Wash Hands or Take Other Personal Hygiene Measures such as Use of Hand Sanitizer

— All restrooms have hand soap dispensers. We have hand sanitizer dispersers adjacent to all three floors with refill supplies. We do maintain hand sanitizer stock. We also hope to provide dispensers for departments that work with the public at a service counter. Hand washing and sanitizing is a must by all Elected Officials, Department Heads and Employees.

Complying with Social Distancing Requirements Established by the CDC,

including Maintaining Six-Foot Social Distancing for both Employees and Member of the General Public when possible and/or Employing other Separation Measures such as Wearing Face Covering or Using Barriers — Signage has been posted at the Courthouse elevators limiting occupancy to one at a time, unless from the same household. Signage has been distributed to Elected Officials and Department Heads for posting. Social Distancing at all County Buildings. Sneeze guards for all departments are recommended. The County has a substantial supply of mask some with elastic, and some with metal nose bridges, for distribution to employees that want to wear one. The masks are currently located in the EMA office. At this time, the Commissioners are not requiring masks be worn by employee or members of the public entering the building but are highly recommended and encouraging that masks are worn when engaging with the public.

The week of May 11, 2020 Owen County employees returned to work and working from home or “on call” status ends, but County buildings generally remain closed to the public. Beginning June 3, 2020, the County will allow members of the public into County buildings. This means County buildings will remain locked. The week beginning May 26, 2020, the buildings will be unlocked during normal business hours for Early Voters ending June 1, 2020 at 12:00 noon. Voters will enter through the South doors and exit thru the West doors.